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A reader has written “You say there is no compulsion in Islam. But Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror took Constantinople from the Christians by use of the sword. What do you think about that?”

You say this because you lack information on the subject. The Christians hated the existing administration at the time: They wanted Ottoman rule, because it was just, loving and compassionate; because they knew they would be free to live by their faith, they sent envoys to Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and begged him, “Free us from this scourge.”

Terrible immorality was widespread at the time. They oppressed the people in a terrible way. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror intervened in Istanbul at the request of the people, of everyone there. And he did not interfere in anything in Istanbul; everyone had freedom of religion, belief and language. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror never interfered in anything.

For example, imagine that a community takes four girls, but the community is Christian and oppresses them, and then one of the girls shouts from a window, “There are four girls here. They are wronging us. Save us for Allah’s sake.” You cannot say, “They are Christian, so leave them alone.” You must break the door down and rescue them. That is the duty of the police. It is wicked to interfere in people’s faith or beliefs, though.

When Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror captured the city, there was only the Greeks. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror also had the Armenian Church brought in. Istanbul was free for all Christians. It was also free for Jews. Jews has been unable to enter until then. The Ottoman Empire took Jews in and installed them in the finest area of Istanbul. All faiths and sects lived as they wished in Istanbul at that time.

In other words, when Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror entered, it was the Christians who opened the gates. All right, they used guns, but the real intervention took placed from the inside. Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror could not have captured Istanbul had he not been supported from the inside. He enjoyed huge popular support from inside the city. (Adnan Oktar, 24 May 2013: A9 TV)